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Opportunity awaits for FC Dallas against Toronto FC

FRISCO – There probably wasn’t an MLS team happier to see the calendar turn over from June to July than FC Dallas. The season was just six weeks old when FCD won their last game and July presents six games and six chances to end their franchise-record, 11-game winless streak.

The first opportunity to do that comes Wednesday night (8 pm CT, FSSW Plus) against a suddenly buoyant Toronto FC side that, while still last in MLS with just nine points from 15 games, has not lost in its last four.

The parallels between TFC and FCD in the first half are undeniable, as both have gone on lengthy winless runs while struggling both defensively in front of goal. Dallas can take heart in the fact that since the Reds finally broke their winless streak, they’ve lost just once in six games.

“I think it’s like that with goalscorers, once they get the first goal things start coming,” Brek Shea said of the winless streak. “With the team, once we win one, the wins will start coming.”

Realistically, the wins need to start coming on Wednesday for FC Dallas against a Toronto team that is 0-4 against Western Conference sides this season with 10 goals allowed.

“For whatever reason, we haven’t found ways to win,” said midfielder Daniel Hernandez. “Hopefully, with some of the guys starting to come back in the next week or two starting off with Toronto, it will be a good test for us.”

Hernandez was quick to note that despite carrying an 11-game winless streak, you wouldn’t know it from the team’s day-to-day attitude.

“Nothing’s really changed with us,” Hernandez said. “I think one of the things we’ve been able [to do is] stay positive throughout the season even as tough as it’s been. We’ve stayed positive and continued to train hard. Guys haven’t taken off or backed off at training.”

Even more encouragingly, the games have certainly been close for Dallas, who haven’t lost by more than a goal in their last six games. Still, they know a change in fortunes and a change in result on Wednesday night is essential to keeping the squad’s head up.

“We’ve been very close, we’ve been jinxed with some calls that have hurt us,” said head coach Schellas Hyndman. “We’ve jinxed ourselves with a lack of discipline at the wrong time, and then we feel that we need to get that [streak] off our back.”